Piper slowly and hesitantly knocked on Professor Dainsie's door. She hadn't even met her own head of house, and she felt slightly ashamed about it. Besides, tomorrow was the big Quidditch Game, and frankly, Piper was nervous. Scared stiff would be a better term for it really. "Pro..Professor Dainsie?" She asked and a hesitating and quiet voice.

Professor Dainsie looked toward the door around her Phoenix that was sitting on the desk in front of her, her hand pausing in mid-pat. She broke into a smile noting the nervousness of the voice. "Please, come in!"

Piper slowly came in and she paused in mid step, and she noted there was a Phoenix on the desk. "Y.you have a Phoenix?" She asked hesitantly, before remembering that this professor did not know who she was. "H..hello, I am Piper Snow, I.. I wanted to m..meet you." She said blushing as she took a few shy steps toward the Professor.

She began patting the Phoenix again. "Yes, I'm very lucky. Living on a magical creature sanctuary, you get exposed to the rare occurrence of Phoenix eggs more than the average person." Looking at the girl directly now she spoke again. "Ah, Piper! On the Quidditch team I believe... very nice to meet you! Would you like some candy?" She gestured to the enormous jar of red liquorice on the front of the desk.

Piper nodded as she eyed the beautiful bird. " That is truly amazing, would he or she mind if I petted it?" She asked softly, almost hesitantly as she edged a bit closer toward the desk. "Yes, that is me." She said with a smile, "It is nice to meet you as well, I've been so busy with classes that I have not met you yet, and I apologize for that." She said sincerely as she nodded, " Yes please, I would actually." She crept a bit closer to the desk and slowly reached for a piece of liquorice.

Zaria smiled a genuine smile, taking a piece of liquorice for herself and giving a small piece to the Phoenix as well. "No need at all to apologize. Plus, my door is always open to visitors." She watched as the girl inched closer. "Certainly it's ok with me if you'd like to pat her, but you'd best ask Arienh yourself. If she agrees she'll hop closer and drop her head." She sat back slightly and watched with interest to see what would happen.

Piper smiled a little as she heard Professor Dainsie speak, and she loosened up a bit. "Thanks!" She said smiling as she looked at the Phoenix."Arienh?" She asked as she put her hand out tentatively, " That is a pretty name." She said with a smile at the Professor and the Phoenix. " Hey girl, would you let me pet you? I promise I won't hurt you, you are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen." She said truthfully. "Professor, forgive me fore not knowing this, but what do you teach?" She asked curiously, her hand still out.

"Yes, I rather like the name too. It's of Celtic origin, and it means Oath." She watched carefully as the bird trained a sharp eye on the girl, seeming to appraise her. A few seconds passed and Zaria's face fell; the bird had not moved. Then with a ruffle of her large wings she hopped closer and lowered her head. "Excellent! I really wasn't sure what she'd do. She doesn't allow just anyone to touch her." Her smile faded a little as she answered the next question. "I use to teach care of magical creatures, as you might have guessed, but I to give it up due to some personal issues. I still run my own magical creature sanctuary though, and run the school's magical creature hospital. Perhaps some day I will get to teach again."

Piper was still for a second as she watched the bird look at her, she didn't move for a few seconds she wasn't even breathing. She didn't know how much longer she could hold her breath, and she was starting to get really dizzy. But thankfully the Phoenix hopped forward and bowed it's head. She let out the breath she had been holding and gently patted the Phoenix's head. "Hey there girl." She said gently, as she looked up at Professor Dainise, " Oh I am sorry to hear that! I should not have asked such a personal question." She said apologizing. "I hope that you will as well." She said nodding.

Her smile widened again. "No, no worries at all." She watched as Arienh covertly eyed the candy jar while enjoying her pat. "Do you have any pets at all Piper?"

Piper smiled a bit as she nodded while still patting the Phoenix's head. "Yes, I have a big fat black cat named Onyx. However he is at my parents home, I was not allowed to bring him with me this year." She said with a smile as she looked at the bird eying the candy. "Is she allowed to have any?" She asked curiously.

"She is, but only one piece. Otherwise I'll be cleaning up red phoenix poop for days..." She paused to ponder that and had the look of someone reliving a strange yet funny memory. "...Anyway. Oh that's too bad about your cat, I'd feel odd if I didn't have a pet with me. If you want to spend some time with some animals, why not head down to the Magical Creature Hospital? It won't replace anything I know, but animals are soothing and it will fill the gap at least a bit."

Piper laughed a bit at the Professor's words, "Yes, I could see how that would be annoying to do." She said smiling as she picked a piece of candy and held it out for the Phoenix. "Yes, I do miss my cat. But my parents thought he would be distracting, so. He stays home." she said her eys lighting up at the mention of the hospital. "I will have to go there, I never knew that is was there actually." Piper said with a nod. " Of course this is my first year here, i only know a few people as well as a few Professors, like Professor Dumont." She said as a light blush started to creep it's way up her cheeks. Even though sh has a boyfriend now, Ahhhh Professor Dumont. That was one crush that might not go away for awhile.

Chalice walked into the study. "Um... excuse me Professor. Can I have a word?"

Zaria eyed the girl carefully trying to decipher the odd look on her face. Shaking it off she said," yes, you really should visit-"

She paused in what she was saying as another student entered the room. "Of course, what can I help you with?"